My name is Hazel, and I am representing County Dublin in this year’s Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon. I’m 16 and I’m currently in TY. I’m a distance runner and a member of Clonliffe Harriers AC. Some of my other hobbies include horse riding, spending time with family, friends and pets. I’m hoping to pursue a career in sports science and psychology when I go to college.

I haven’t actually taken part in the Mini Marathon before. I was due to take part in 2020 and 2021 but couldn’t both times because we were in lockdown.

I’m really looking forward to this year’s event and hoping to run a fast time and raise as much money as I can for my charity, which this year is GOAL, the humanitarian aid charity that supports families affected by poverty and conflict around the world. I take part in the GOAL mile each year on Christmas Eve and I think it is a fantastic cause. Irish middle distance runner Ciara Mageean is one of GOAL's Irish ambassadors, and she is one of my running idols, which makes supporting this charity even more special for me. I really look up to Ciara as she is an incredible runner and role model. 

I think the Mini Marathon is a brilliant race, because not only are women running together and supporting each other, but the charities they are running for are also able to raise vital funds. I'm so excited to finally take part in the race in person, because as I've seen from previous events, there is always an electric atmosphere, which I don't doubt because in my opinion, Dublin is the running capital of Ireland, and we have an amazingly strong community of runners here, which I’m so thankful to be a part of. 

I want to take part this year because of my love for running, and also to encourage other people to take up running too. I hold running close to my heart because it's a way for me to let go of anything that's bothering me and connect to my strongest self. I’m always trying to improve, but also trying to encourage people around me, like my teammates in my club, as well as my family and even competitors, to be their fastest and strongest too. As Eliud Kipchoge himself says, "my dream is to make this world a running world. A running world is a joyful world." 

I want to keep spreading the word about running to girls my age, and of all ages, because I believe strongly in the benefits of running, for mental, physical and emotional health. Whether it be parkruns, joining a running club or taking part in inclusive, fun races like the Mini Marathon, there are ways for everyone to get involved in the sport, no matter their ability. Running has made me a stronger person and given me so many opportunities, and I have met so many amazing people because of it. 

The best piece of training advice I would give is to make sure you’ll definitely be able to complete the distance on race day, so set yourself a training plan that will allow you to achieve that. Train consistently each week, and maybe train with someone to motivate yourself. You don’t have to train really hard, just enough that your stamina improves, and you get more comfortable with longer distances, building up to that 10k on race day. Something my coach always says to me is to “get in the zone”, which you can practice in training before the race. Getting into a good rhythm can really help the race to not feel so tough. You can focus on your form, your breathing, or set yourself small targets to reach during the run, such as trying to reach the next tree or lamppost.  

If I had to give advice to others considering taking part this year, I would say firstly to believe in yourself and enter, that’s the first step. During the race, if you feel like you have any energy left in you, don’t hold yourself back. You might be surprised with how fast you can actually run. But above all the most important thing is to make sure you enjoy it and embrace the experience. Thank you so much for reading my post, and if you can, please donate to GOAL and support all the fantastic work they do around the globe for people in need.